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Keeping your home secure is of the utmost importance. It’s your largest asset, it keeps your family warm and safe, and it holds pretty much everything you own. Why risk letting burglars into your home with shoddy locks, when you can have one of our residential locksmiths help you find the best locks for your home?

Here are some tips for choosing the best locks for your house, and a few videos, to help you figure out what type of locks might be right for you.

Do Your Homework

Any lock that you buy should meet minimum standards set by the American National Standards Institute and by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BAMA). While that may be a lot to remember, determining the quality of a lock is pretty easy.

Each lock should be graded on the package. Products will be labelled Grade One, Grade Two or Grade Three, with One being the best quality. The actual grading goes into more detail on the BAMA website, so go there to see how your favorite lock stacks up next to its competitors.

Assess Your Needs

Do you live in a high crime area? Do you have children you need to prevent from leaving the house by themselves? Maybe you need a smartlock so that you can let people in your home when you aren’t there, such as the dog walker or cleaner?

Just be sure that the lock you choose can be safely operated by everyone who needs to use it. It’s no good installing super strong locks that are difficult to open from the inside. In fact, if there were ever to be a fire in your home, you’d want to know that the lock would be easy to operate under those conditions.

Types of locks

There are several basic types of locks, some of which are harder to pick than others. If you live in a high crime area, you want one or more sturdy locks that will make it more difficult for thieves to get into your home.

Spring latch and slip bolt locks are the easiest to open using something other than a key. They lock the doorknob in place, preventing the latch from moving from the door frame. They are easy to install and inexpensive, but also easy to pick and break.

Deadbolts are sturdier locks that actually bolt the door closed. The entire bolt must be moved from the door frame by turning a knob or using a key, making it more difficult to pick. Look for deadbolts made from steel, bronze or brass as they are the sturdiest materials for this type of lock.

No matter what type of lock you have, remember to use it. A great lock will only act as a deterrent if you remember to lock the door behind you. And, don’t worry if you happen to lock yourself out of the house. We’ll be happy to come let you back in again, any time day or night, regardless of what type of lock you have.

If you’ve been thinking about boosting your home’s security by installing a new lock, you may be surprised at the huge amount of choices you have. Some of the newer locks available on the market are also some of the most high-tech, and they may have you wondering if you’ll still need your keys in the years to come.

Keyless entry locks and smart locks are becoming more popular with today’s homeowners who rely heavily on their smart phones to keep up with daily life. Smart locks, which are activated by keying in a code on a keypad, or unlocked via your smart phone, are quickly becoming a popular choice for busy homeowners who want something a little more sophisticated and versatile than traditional locks.

Why They’re So Smart

One of the features of many smart locks is the ability to program several access codes for each lock. This allows you to give a temporary access code to neighbors or family members who may need to get inside your home while you aren’t there. You can give your dog walker a code, then deactivate it once they’ve left your house.

Some smart locks can also be remotely accessed via your computer or smart phone, so you can see if you’ve forgotten to lock the door when you left, even when you aren’t there. You can also lock or unlock the door from anywhere in the world. No more rushing home to double-check your door lock; check it and lock it from your phone instead.

Keep Your Keys

Many of the new smart locks work with an existing lock mechanism, or they include one. This means you still have the option of using your key, which can be useful if there is a problem with the power supply to your lock.

Some consumers worry that these smart locks are able to be hacked by computer savvy thieves, but in reality, they are no less secure than a traditional lock that could be picked or bumped open, and they do offer a lot of added convenience.

Talk To Your Residential Locksmith

If you want to install a new smart lock or keyless entry lock in your home, ask your residential locksmith about which ones they recommend. Depending on your home security needs, there’s sure to be a perfect smart lock for you. Let our residential locksmiths make your home secure the smart way, contact us today.

There’s a terrifyingly effective technique that intruders can use to open many doors, including the ones leading into your home, and it leaves no sign of forced entry.

What is lock bumping?

Lock bumping is a technique that uses a special key called a bump key that is inserted into the lock, then ‘bumped’ with a mallet or other device. This forces the pins in the lock to unlock, allowing the intruder into your home without damaging the door or lock in any noticeable way.

Originally used by residential locksmiths in Seattle and other cities to help homeowners gain access into their homes when locked out, the technique has been picked up by criminals because it is much easier than lock picking and leaves no signs of forced entry. It is quiet enough to allow criminals into your home while you are sleeping, leaving you vulnerable to assault.

Bump keys are fairly simple to make and can even be ordered over the internet. A quick search for lock bumping videos will bring up everything a potential intruder needs to know to break into your Seattle area home.

How to protect your home from lock bumping

Older locks are actually less susceptible to lock bumping, primarily because the pins inside them don’t move as smoothly as more modern locks. If you are concerned that your locks could be bumped, call a Seattle locksmith to examine them. It’s also a good idea to consider upgrading your locks to bump-proof versions or consider adding additional security measures such as chain latches across doors or a door alarm that sounds any time your doors are opened.

At Hawk Locksmith, we make your home and business security our priority. Let our residential locksmiths and commercial locksmiths help keep your property safe from thieves with lock modifications or new locks that can’t be bumped.

Have you ever been in a situation where you are in a hurry but your keys are nowhere to be found? Lost keys can be a HUGE hassle when your days are non stop. It doesn’t matter where you lose them or who stole them, if you can’t get into your home or vehicle, it’s a problem. The process usually goes like this: My keys are gone! Oh no what do I do?! I won’t be able to get into anything! All is lost and ruined! The right way to think about it is: My keys are gone! Better call a professional locksmith and get this fixed in a snap. See? No stress.

Think you can handle the job alone? Bad idea. Local locksmiths have tons of experience dealing with these problems, after all it is what they do for a living. This means that rekeying your locks and replacing your keys would take a locksmith 1/10th of the time it would take you to do it yourself. Even if you need to get into your car or home right away you run the risk of breaking or damaging your property. It will be more expensive to replace a door, window, or repaint your car than calling a local locksmith right? Ultimately calling an emergency locksmith in these situations will save you time, money, and save you from a lot of stress!

Did you know Hawk has an online lock shop? We carry everything you need to keep your home and business safe. Take a look around and be sure to review any of the products you have used in the past! We offer the most popular brand names at the best prices possible.

College is a place to learn and a place to find a new you. School is a wonderful place, but be sure to stay safe while you are on campus. There are measures you should take to stay safe in college dorms and around town. Read the following to learn how the right locks and the right precautions can help you stay safe.

Your Housing

Are you staying in a dorm or are you living in a house with roommates? The number one way to keep your new home safe is by installing strong locks. Ask if anyone else has keys to your dorm room and if you are allowed to change to locks. Also you might have your own room in a big house. Add a lock to your door so no one gets in your things, you will feel alot safer by taking this precaution.

Parties

It’s no secret that college towns have a large party atmosphere. Make sure your car locks work and are in good condition. Pepper spray is also a good idea, keep this in your purse or on your keys for easy access. Rowdy college parties can be fun, but they can get out of hand. Be sure to know where your friends are and don’t sneak off without telling the people you are with first.

Call a local locksmith to help you create a secure environment in your college housing. Professional locksmiths can help you decide the best security method to keep you safe!

Locksmiths have always been the ideal people to contact when it comes to improving the basic security of either your residential home or perhaps even for your business. They provide reliable services in addition to being readily approachable due to their 24-hour assistance policies which are credited as a vital factor with regard to their field’s longevity and relevance. Of course, you won’t exactly require their services unless you’re currently having trouble with your property’s security or simply taking steps to improve upon it. Make sure that you’re aware of your residence’s current dilemma or otherwise any protective equipment which you’d like to install to your humble abode and provide a clear explanation of your ongoing predicament to the locksmith that you’re about to hire. A major percentage consisting any major locksmith’s duty would be to change locks as well as other similar services which are related to their corresponding skills and capabilities.

Most of the common duties that they perform besides change locks would be duplicating extra sets of keys, provide tips on where to store your keys afterwards to ensure that you won’t lose it again later on, be able to assess your home’s security and possibly modify it if he or she is able. More importantly, locksmiths can recommend you as to what types of locks are ideal for your property. Locks for cabinets, file drawers and other storage locations can also be availed of from these reputable lock replacement experts. Closure plans may also be utilized by premium locksmiths to better safeguard massive structures, buildings and complexes. For even tighter security, more technologically-oriented clients will be glad to know that there are other sophisticated security systems such as biometric locks, card locks, numeric code locks, as well as biometric security solutions.

Notable locksmiths expand their services and overall approachability through one or more social media profiles as well as easy-to-access web portals that feature a brief overview of their skills alongside their accomplishments and innovations. Aside from websites owned by locksmith professionals and companies, you can likewise determine the reliability and finesse of any potential professional through feedback from previous clients found in their respective blogs or websites.

There are also online comparison websites which use advanced techniques to find out whether a particular 24 hour locksmith service will suit your needs. You should also keep in mind that the locksmiths you ought to hire should be fully insured and licensed, at least have modest local office or business premises, and proudly own industry wide certification. The typical rates resulting from when locksmith’s change locks may vary from one locksmith to another for every keyhole when applied to residential or commercial security locks. That’s why you should research well first so that you can save.

Whether you are just starting out or you’re well into your 20th year of running a successful business, you’ll know the importance of keeping your premises secure. When we start up a business we often put everything we have into it, and that’s not just money. It’s our time, our commitment and our lives. Setting up your own business takes a lot of courage and belief. If your business is attacked by thieves it can feel as if they have taken not only money from you but also everything you have put into your business. Unfortunately there will always be thieves around, we cannot prevent that, but we can prevent them from breaking into our premises.

Locks And Doors
Many of us would assume a simple lock and gate would be enough to stop any intruders from breaking in. But thieves know your business is your way of making money. Even if you don’t have hard cash in your premises they know there will be something of worth inside, whether that be stock or computers and tills etc. With that knowledge in hand (and experience) they will not have a problem getting through flimsy gates and locks.
Not only should you call a commercial locksmith to fit the entrance of your premises with strong and secure locks, you should also fit any windows. If a thief does manage to break in, make sure you have a room in your building where you can lock away anything of value whenever you are closed. Make it as difficult for them as possible!

Gates, Grilles And Shutter
Investing in security grilles and gates is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a break in. It does make closing a slightly lengthier process, but it’s well worth spending the extra time and money on a local locksmith.
Not so long ago the majority of gates and grilles you physically took off the windows and doors in the morning and put back on in the evening. While these were somewhat effective, if you can take them off, a thief will find a way in as well. You can now invest in electric shutters and security grilles. Making the process of shutting up a little easier, and it that much harder for a thief to break in.

Draw Attention!
If someone is going to break in, one of the best things you can do is to draw attention to them at all stages. Hopefully your business is already in a well lit area, but whether it is or not after you have locked up make sure you have a motion detector light. When anyone gets too close to the door to your premises it will turn on drawing attention to them. If this doesn’t put them off and they do still manage to get in, make sure your business is set up with an alarm. This will need to be as loud as possible and continue to go off until someone turns it off with the correct code. You can also fit a flashing light inside that goes off when the alarm goes off. Draw as much attention as possible and hopefully any intruder will be spooked before they can get away with any of your possessions.

Your business I expect, is so important to you, it’s not worth scrimping on security as there is a lot more at stake. Calling a commercial locksmith is the best way to secure your local business. Unfortunately burglaries are always going to happen, but do everything you can to prevent them. You can never be too cautious. I would also recommend investing in a good CCTV system. At least then if they do manage to break in, you will have a better chance of catching the culprit and getting your possessions back.
Eilidh MacRae is writing on behalf of West Midlands Shutters and would recommend them for roller shutters in wolverhampton.

Car theft is no longer unusual in the United States and the chances of recovering a stolen car are very slim. This is why it is important that you protect your car, even if it is old, because it is a hard earned investment that is not easy to come by. Unfortunately, no one can tell if they can become a victim of auto theft, so taking the necessary precautions for your car from being stolen is the best thing to do. Since newer models will have theft deterrent devices, the most likely models to be stolen are those that are a little older. Thus, applying theft prevention methods on your car is to your own benefit.
Check Your Investment

If you are planning on purchasing a car that is not brand new, you must make it a point to check if the car is not stolen in the first place. There are many car dealers that do buy and sell business, which often leads to them purchasing stolen cars at a lower value, and then selling them for a higher price. If you suspect the car to be stolen, do not do business with the dealer. You may only get into trouble with the law in the end.
Multiple Protections

It is always safer to have multiple types of protection applied on a car, than just one. The more protection you use, the longer it will take for thieves to steal your car that eventually leads to them giving up. Just like you would call a residential locksmith for your home, call a local auto locksmith to help apply protections to your vehicle.
Use Your Common Sense

In auto theft cases, some of the cars that were stolen had been left unlocked by their owners, while a percentage of those stolen cars, had the keys in the ignition. This is simply reckless on the part of the car owner. Here are a few things you must remember:
Always lock your car and roll up the window before leaving the car. It is also important that you do not leave the keys in the ignition.
In case of emergencies, it is wise to have spare keys stored in your wallet or elsewhere, but not in your car as well. Safe hiding places for keys inside cars are well known by thieves.
Never leave your car unattended, even in front of your own house.
If your car has security devices, make use of them every time you step away from your car.Call a auto locksmith to secure your car locks
Always chose a parking lot that is visible and attended. Do not opt for poorly-lit to dark areas. This will reduce the chances of having your car stolen while you dine, shop, work or worship.
Never leave your valuables inside the car exposed. Thieves can easily see these through the window and be tempted to steal your car.
Invest In Warning Devices

When you have warning devices on your car, thieves are aware that you are prepared. Those annoying warning sounds you hear some cars let off when someone gets too close, are effective methods of protection. There is an array of warning devices you can purchase in the market today, you just need to find the right one that suits your needs and your car.

Tracking Devices In Case Of Successful Theft

Though quite expensive, tracking devices offer car owners the opportunity to locate their car if it is successfully stolen. It can send out signals for law enforcements to locate and retrieve. Just like warning devices, there are many tracking devices in the market. Always select the one that suits your needs and car.

Valerie Howards is a freelance writer specializing in criminal law. She regularly contributes articles to legal and BailBondsDirect.com websites

Locks are obviously one of the best way to secure a home or business. What are locks really all about though?

First a you need to know how a lock works. A lock consists of a plug, a cylinder, the pins, and the springs. A lock cylinder is the center piece that holds the bottom pins, it also holds the key. When the key is inserted the, pins will line up and the plug can turn inside the cylinder. The cylinder holds the pins and the springs.

Lock Maintenance

Just like anything, locks need maintenance. Locks can become dirty and hard to use if not taken care of properly. You should lubricate your locks with graphite and not any oils as this will attract dust to all moving parts of your locks. Brush your locks off too so they will not become dirty. You always want your locks to be clean and lubricated. Consult with locksmith professionals before performing any maintenance on your locks.

Lock Repair

Sometimes a lock will need repaired because it is not working, or it may be hard to use. Locks sometimes need to be taken apart, readjusted, and sometimes parts will need to be replaced. A cylinder repair may need to be done, or another repair may need to be made. Sometimes a whole new lock will need to be installed. Call your local locksmith for all home and business lock repairs.

Lock Replacement

It’s recommended that you change your locks every so often. The reason for this is because you want to be the only person with a key, and you want to stay up to date with lock technology. You may have loaned your keys to someone or you may have lost your extra key. Lock replacement is essential for home and business security.